Ujjal Bhuyan, J.

1. This order will dispose of all the above noted writ petitions.

2. Heard Mr. Daraius Khambata and Mr. Shyam Mehta, learned senior counsel along with Mr. Viren Asar, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. Shrihari Aney and Mr. Narendra Walawalkar, learned senior counsel along with Mr. R. Basu and Mr. H. Asnani, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 in all the cases; Mr. K.H. Halai, learned counsel has appeared for respondent No. 3 in Writ Petition No. 482 of 2019; and Mr. Soheb Sheikh, learned counsel for respondent No. 4 in Writ Petition No. 482 of 2019.

3. Writ Petition No. 482 of 2019 was argued by learned counsel for the parties as the lead case and any decision rendered therein will cover all the remaining 20 writ petitions. Therefore, Writ Petition No. 482 of 2019 is taken up as the lead case and the factual narratives and submissions would be in the context of the said writ petition.

4. By filing this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioners seek quashing of order dated 15.02.2018 passed by respondent No. 2 in Case No. EO/E(63)(63-A) of 2001, rather quashing of all the orders passed by respondent No. 2 in the said case, and further seeks quashing of proceedings in Case No. EO/E(63)(63-A) of 2001 as well. Be it stated that by the impugned order dated 15.02.2018, respondent No. 2 who is the Estate Officer of Mumbai Port Trust has rejected the application of the petitioners questioning his jurisdiction to adjudicate Case No. EO/E(63)(63-A) of 2001 under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971.

5. It may be mentioned that the writ petition was amended pursuant to order of this Court dated 05.07.2019.

Pleadings

6. Respondent No. 1 is the Board of Trustees of the Port of Mumbai, a statutory corporation constituted under the provisions of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Originally predecessor in title of respondent No. 1 i.e., the Secretary of State for India in Council had granted leasehold right of seven contiguous plots of land together admeasuring about 29,434.75 square metres or thereabouts, all situated at Reay Road, Darukhana, Mumbai by way of seven separate indentures of lease to Mazgaon Manufacturing Company Limited and Framji Petit Spinning & Manufacturing Company Limited together with buildings, godowns etc. standing thereon. Particulars of the seven leases have been provided by the petitioners in the following two tabular formats:-

7. All the aforementioned leases contained identical terms and conditions but for varying periods though validity of all the seven leases were upto 10.12.1978 with right of renewal.

8. By two deeds of assignment dated 09.05.1935 and 09.07.1936, the lessees above named assigned their leasehold rights under the respective indentures of lease to one Shri Tulsiram Devidayal (since deceased). Thus the said late Tulsiram Devidayal had become the lessee of respondent No. 1 in respect of the land and property covered by the said seven indentures of lease, referred to hereinafter as 'the said premises'. Consequently, bills of lease rent were issued by respondent No. 1 in favour of late Tulsiram Devidayal as lessee of the said premises which were duly paid.

9. Late Tulsiram Devidayal out of his natural love and affection and for the benefit of his family created a private family trust known as 'Tulsiram Devidayal Trust' by a registered deed of settlement/trust deed dated 02.02.1943. Under the said deed of settlement late Tulsiram Devidayal settled the said premises upon Tulsiram Devidayal Property Trust i.e., petitioner No. 3, also referred to as the Trust, as per terms and conditions mentioned therein. Therefore, according to the petitioners, petitioner No. 3 i.e., the Trust became the lessee of respondent No. 1 with respect to the said premises.

10. Be it stated that under the said deed of settlement/trust deed dated 02.02.1943 late Tulsiram Devidayal appointed himself and his two sons Gopaldas Tulsiram Devidayal (